Bread, meat, and vegetable cutting machine.



No. 857,913. PATENTED JUNE 25,1907.

0. J. VANN. BREAD, MEAT, AND VEGETABLE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 2. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR Afro/aw 0? J. VANN. EEEAE, MEAT, AND VEGETABLE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2,1906.

PATENTED JUNE .25; 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' I 3.3 '8? WITNESS/58, 2 26 INVEN'TOH yC w- PA ENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

I 0. J. VANN. BREAD, MEAT, AND VEGETABLE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2,1906.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 WITNESSES 7 06mg ATTORNEY ms sra rns PATENT @FFMJF.

BREAD, MEAT, AND VEGETABLE CUTTiNG MAGHlNE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

are. $357,913.

Patented June 25, 1907'.

Apoiieatioufiled May 2, 1906. Serial No. 314,761.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. VANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Bread, Meat, and Vegetable Cutting Machine, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to the class of ma chines for slicing bread, meat and vegetables, illustrated and described in my former Letters Patent N 713,539, dated November 11, 1902, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction and to greatly improve the operation of the machine in use, the present invention being, in brief, a carrying forward and perfection of the machine illustrated in my said former patent.

With these ends in view I have devised the novel machine, of which the following description in connection with the accompany ing drawings is a specification, reference characters being used to indicate the several Parts:

Figure l is a planview of the machine complete; Fig. 2 an end elevation as seen from the right in Fig. l, the operating wheel being removed; Fig. 3 a section. on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 looking toward the. left; Fig. 4 a section on the line 44 in Fig. 8 looking down; Fig. 5a section on the line 55 in Fig. 6 looking toward the left, the clutch mechanism appearing in elevation;

.Fig. 6 a section on the line 66 in Fig. 5

looking toward the right; andFig. z is a section on the line 77 in Fig. 6 looking toward the left, showing the friction device in elevation.

10 denotes the bed of the machine shown as supported by legs 11, and 12 the.

shaft which extends longitudinally of the machine and is journaled under the bed, in the present instance in two of the legs. This shaft carries at one end a cutting knife 13 having an eccentric cutting edge as shown by dotted lines in Fig. '2, said shaft having at which meshes with a corresponding gear wheel 1-8 mounted to rotate on a stud, not shown, extending from one of the legs. Gear wheel 18 carriesanad ustable crank pm 19.

20 denotes a red one end of which is pivoted to crank pin 19 and the other to a rack 21 which reciprocates in ways 22 upon a bracket 23'which depends from the bed.

For convenience in describing the machine I shall'refer to it as a bread cutting machine and describe that use only, although it is obvious that the machine is equally applicable to the slicing of ham, dried beef and other meats and also to the slicing of cabbages and vegetables generally. The loaf of bread to be sliced rests upon the bed, is moved forward by means of a pusher 24 and is retained in place by means of forwardly extending prongs 25 on the pusher. The bread rests upon a fixed support in the'sensc that it has no lateral movement, but only an advancing movement toward the eccentric knife. The forward movement of the pusher and the feeding of the loaf is effected by.

means of a worm 26, one end of which is jour, naled in bracket 23, the other end being journaled in a bracket, not shown, under the forward end of the bed. The pusher is detachably connected with the worm by means of a swinging bar 27 which is ribbed to correspond with-the worm and projects through a slot 28 in the bed.

29 denotes longitudinal plates, secured to the bed on opposite sides of the slot and extending partly over the slot, which form ways for the pusher, and 30 plates secured to the underside of the pusher and lying underp'lates 29. pusher receive plates 29 and form with plates 30 grooves which receive the ways. swinging ribbed bar 27 is formed inte ral with or rigidly secured to a plate 32 which is pivoted to the rear end of the pusher as at 33. A spring 34 upon the pusher bears against plate 32 and normally acts to swing the plate around and carry the ribbed bar out of engagement with the worm. The ribbed bar is retained in engagement with the worm by means of a spring latch 35 shown as pivoted to a block 36 on the pusher and engaging the plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The free end of the latch projects through a slot 37 in the pusher, shown by dotted lines only in' Fig. 3, for convenience in operation.

Intermittent rotation is imparted to the worm 26 by means of clutch mechanism which I will now describe. I 38 denotesa gear'wheel which engages a pinion 39 at the end of the worm and is provided with a hub 40. This gear wheel is Recesses 31 in the underside of the The mounted to rotate on a shaft 41, one end of which is fixed in bracket 23 and the other in a bracket 42 which depends from the bed.

43 denotes a gear wheel having a hub 44 which is mounted to rotate on shaft 41 and engagesrack 21. Hub 44 is provided with sockets 45 which receive the hubs 46 of clutch dogs 47. Hub 44 and the clutch dogs lie in a recess 48 in the face of gear wheel 38 and the engaging ends of the clutch dogs are normally held in engagement with the periphery of the recess by springs 49, see Fig.5. Gear wheel 33 is held against backward movement by means of a'friction device comprising a friction ring 50 which incloses hub 44. and a clamping ring 51 which incloses the friction ring and is provided with an arm 52 shaped to form an attaching bracket and secured to the underside of the bed, and an arm 53. A set screw 54 passing through these arms enables the operator to tighten the clamping ring and close the friction ring 'upon the hub with just sufficient pressure to retain gear wheel .38, in place after each forward movement and prevent any backward movement of said gear wheel.

The operation of the clutch mechanism will be obvious from Figs. 5, 6 and 7, in con nection with which see Fig. 2.

Each reciprocation of the rack by means of rod 20 will cause an oscillation of gear wheel 43 in each direction. When i the rack is moved toward the left, as seen in Fig. 2, gear wheel 43 and hub 44 will be turned toward the right, as seen in Fig. 5, and the clutch dogs will engage the inner periphery. of recess 48 in gear wheel 38 and will turn said gear wheel also toward the right. and by means of pinion 39 will. turn the worm and impart an actuation to the pusher. When the rack is moved toward the right, as seenin Fig. 2, gear wheel 43 and hub ti will be turned to ward the left, as seen in Fig. 5, springs 49 will yield and the clutch dogs will be dragged backward over the inner periphery of recess 48 in gear whee 38 without imparting movement to said gear wheel which will be held stationarw by means of the friction device.

55, sec dotted lines Fig. 1, indicates a loaf of bread as it is placed in the 111achine.

56 denotes sidc guides for tho loaf, preferably two on cach side. Each pair of side guides is carried by slides 57 provided with upwardly extending arms 53 to hich the side guides are attached. The slides are provided with slots 5.) and are secured to the bed by means of screws (it) passing through the slots.

(5] denotes a top guide for the loaf carried by'. rods (32 which c.\'lcnd upward and pass loosely through arms (33, (see Fig. 2.) These arms exlcnd outward and downward and are a('ljustably secured to arms 53 on the slides 57 at one side of thc machine, the right as seen in Fig. 2, by means of set screws I which pass through slots in arms 63 and en gage arms 58. The top guide is retained-in engagement with the top of the loaf by means of springs 64- which inclose rods 62, the springs yielding and allowing the top guide and rods to move upward to provide for inequalities inthe height of the loaf. In order that the top guide may be swung upward and out of the way if required, I preferably provide hinge joints 66 in arms 63 and retain the upper portions of said arms and the top guide in operative position by means of springs 67 which aresecured to the lower portions of said arms and the free ends of which bear upon the upper portions thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

63. denotes trimming knives whiehmay or may not be used, as preferred, to trim off the sides of a loaf of bread as it is pushed forward. The bases of these trimming knives are shown as socketed in recesses 73 in the bed'and the knives are secured. to the bed by means of screws 69.

The cutting or slicing of the bread is effected by means of the rotary eccentric cutting knife 13 carried by shaft 12, substantially as in my said former patent referred to.

7 0 denotes a guard for the cutting knife, the normal position of which is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

71 denotes a receiving trough preferably curved, as shown in Fig. 1, into which the slices pass as they are cut from the loaf, the feeding forward of the leaf acting to force the severed slices forwardin the trough.

72, see dotted lines inFig. 1, indicates a table which may be secured to the forward end of the bed and used in cutting meat and vegetables, the trough being of course removed and the table being secured to the. bed by screws or in any suitable manner not illustrated in the drawings. I

The operation of the machine as a whole will be readily understood from the drawward end of the loaf'lying between the side.

guides and under the top guide. Having placed the new leaf in position and swung the ribbcd bar into engagement with the worm where it is locked by engagement of the latch with plate 32, the operating wheel is rotated either lryhand or power as new loaf is pushed forward, trimmed by the trimming knives if required and cut into referred, the

too

slices. The rotation of the cutting knife is continuous. Atthe time the cutting operation is performed, the worm and pusher are stationary, but as soon as the cutting knife has passed through the loaf the worm is again. turned and the usher is actuated to move the leaf forwar a distance equal to the thickness of another slice before the cutting knife reaches the cutting position and commences the cutting o )eration. As soon as a loaf is sliced, the r1 bed bar is disengaged from the wcrm by lifting the latch and the )usher is moved back to place as before.

I" avi'ng thus described my invention 1 claim: z Y

1. A machine of the character described comprising a cutting knife, a pusher for feeding the material to the knife, a worm, adetachable connection intermediate the pusher and the worm, a reciprocating rack and connections intermediate the rack and the wbrm whereby the latter is intermittently rotated.

2. A machine of the characterdescribed comprising a cutting knife, a pusher for feeding the material to the knife, a Worm, con nections intermediate the pusher and the worm, a reciprocating rack, connections for intermittently actuating the worm by the rack, and means for adjusting the throw of the rack, substantially as described, for the purpose specified. 4

3. A. machine of the character described comprising a cutting knife, a pusher for feeding the material to the knife, a worm, a de tachable connection intermediate the pusher and the worm, a rack, conneetionsfor intermittently actuating the worm by the rack, a rod connected to the rack and a shaft having an adjustable "crank pin on which the rod is pivoted whereby the throw of the rack may be adjusted to regulate the movement of the pusher at each actuation. I

4.- In a machine of the character described the combination with a cutting knife, a pusher for feeding the material to the knife, a worm, a inion carried thereby, a gear wheel 38 engaging said )inion and having a recess 48 in its face anrf a gear wheel 43 having a hub 44, of clutch dogs whichengage the inner periphery of recess 48 and are provided with hubs socketed in hub 44, springs acting to normally hold said clutch dogs in o erative engagement and a reciprocating rac r engaging gear wheel 43, said clutch dogs actmg when the rack is moved in one direction to carry gear wheel 38 forwardand rotate the worm and moving backward over the inner ncriphery of recess 48 leaving said gear wheel stationary when the rack is moved in the opposite direction. I

5. in a machine of the character described, the combination with a cutting knife, a

pusher for feeding the material to the knife, a p

worn'i, a pinion carried thereby, a gear wheel 38 engaging said pinion and having a recess in its face, and a gear wheel 43 having a hub 44, of clutch dogs socketed in hub 44 and engaging the inner periphery of the recess, springs acting to normally, hold said clutch dogs in operative engagement and means for imparting intermittent rotation to gear wheel 43.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a eu ttingknife, a pusher for fcedin the material to the knife, a worm, a pinion carried thereby, a gear wheel 38 engaging said pinion and having a recess in its face and a hub 4-0, and a gear wheel 43 having a hub 44, of clutch dogs which engage the wall of the recess and are provided with hulzs socketed in hub 44, springs'acting to normally hold said clutch dogs in operative engagement, a reciprocating rack engaging gear wheel 43, for the purpose set forth, and a friction device on hub 40 whereby gear wheel 38 is held against backward movement.

7. In a machine of the character described, thecombination with a cutting knife, a pusher for feeding the material to the knife, a worm, a pinion carried thereby, a gear wheel 38 engaging said pinion and having a recess in its face and a hub 40, and a gear wheel 43 having a hub 4:4 of clutch dogs which engage the wall of the recess and are socketed in hub 44, springs acting to normally hold the clutch dogs in operative engagement, means for imparting intermittent rotation to gearwheel 43, and a friction device whereby gear wheel 38 is held. against backward movement.

8. In a machine of the character described, the comhination with a cutting knife, a pusher for feeding the material to the knife, a worm, a pinion carried thereby and a gear wheel engaging said pinion and having a hub, of mechanism for imparting intermittent movement to said gear wheel and Worm and a friction ring and clamping ring inclosing said hub whereby the gear wheel is held against backward movement.

9. in a machine of the character described the combination with a shaft, a cut ter carried thereby, a pusher, a Worm and detachable connections intermediate the pusher and the worm, of a rack and connections intermediate the shaft and the rack whereby the latter is reciprocated and connections intermediate the rack and the Worm forimparting intermittent rotation to the latter.

10. In a machine of the character described, a bed having a central, longitudinal slot; a shaft; a worm located beneath the slot in the bed; a connection between said shaft and worm wherebyan intermittent rotation is imparted to the worm; apusher slidingly mounted within the slotga plate ivoted to said pusher; a bar depending from said plate through the slot in the bed and adapted to engage with the worm; means for normally holding the said plate in a position to cause the bar to engage with the worm, and a spring exerting pressure against the plate tending to cause it to swing to a position Where the depending bar will be disengaged from the worm.

11. In a machine of the character (le scribed; a bed provided with a central, longif tudinal slot; plates secured to the edges of said slot; shaft; a worm; connections between the shaft and Worm whereby an inter inittent rotation may be imparted to the Worm: a pusher plates secured to the underside of, the pusher and extendingunder the plates of the slot; a plate pivoted to the rear of said pusher; a bar depending from said pivoted plate through the hedslot, the lower end of said bar being ribbed to correspond. with the Worm; a spring latch for normally retainingthe pivoted plate vin a position Where the depending; bar will be in engagement w th the said worm, and a spring acting against the said pivoted plate to cause it to move to-a position where the depending bar will be disengaged from the worm.

i i I I; l l i I l l l 12. In a machine-of the character described, a shaft; a Worm; connections between the shaft and worm whereby an intermittent rotation may he imparted to the Worm; a pusher; connections between the pusher and the Worm whereby. the pusher may he reciprocated; side guides for the material to be sliced; and top guides comprising a slide secured to the bed of the table the inner end of which is provided with a vertically extending portion; a vertical rod ad justably connected with the vertical portion of the slide and being provided with a central spring hinged portion; a horizontalportion extending from the said vertical rod, and a spring actuated rod extending through said horizontal portion and carrying a guide adapted to press upon the material to be sliced.

In testimony whereof I a'tliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VANN.

Vii tnesses:

'A. M. Woosrnn,

S. W. ATHERTON. 

